Syrian Migrants Face Cold, Danger to Reach Europe
2021-12-28
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1Twenty-nine-year-old Bushra started her trip to Europe from Erbil, Iraq in late September.
2The Syrian and ethnic Kurd was a student at the university in Deir el-Zour when the civil war started in her country in 2011.
3She moved to another university in Syria when Islamic State fighters took control of areas near her.
4She still did not feel safe.
5During one two-year period, she did not leave home often.
6She got work with an international aid group.
7During that time, she saved all her money so she would be able to leave and go to Europe.
8Ten years after the war started in her country, she began her trip.
9Bushra left because the economy was not good in Syria.
10For example, her father's job paid about $100 a month at the start of the war.
11Today, the same amount of money is only worth about $15.
12The minimum wage in Syria can only buy about 2.3 kilograms of meat a month.
13Some months, people cannot get that much because it is not available.
14She left because she feared Islamic State fighters who recently carried out eight kidnappings in a town close to where she lived.
15And she left because she reported on local officials in a corruption case.
16She worried the people she reported on might hurt her.
17Her parents worried about a woman in her 20s making a long trip by herself.
18But in the end, they agreed she should leave and try to find a better life in Europe.
19Bushra said she had no future in Syria.
20She recently spoke with the Associated Press.
21She said she worried security forces would target her for the rest of her life.
22For that reason, she did not give her last name.
23She wanted to get to safety in Germany.
24So, she started the trip.
25The last part included a long walk through the Eastern European country of Belarus to the Polish border.
26One time she made it to the border but was chased away by Polish guards.
27At that time, a friend got so scared she fainted.
28The group she was with tried to hide in ditches and behind trees so they would not get caught.
29But the guards found the migrants and took them back to Belarus.
30But Bushra tried a second time.
31Along the way, she hurt her leg.
32She slept outside with other travelers on cold nights.
33One night it was so cold that a friend broke a tooth because her teeth were chattering so much.
34At last, she reached a village in Poland where people took them to Germany in a car.
35"I put up with unbearable pain," Bushra said.
36She added, "Running away from something is sometimes the easiest thing."
37Almost 80,000 Syrians applied for asylum in Europe in 2021.
38That is 70 percent more than last year.
39Of the 500,000 migrants who came to Europe in 2021, Syrians are the second largest group behind Afghans.
40About 90 percent of people in Syria are very poor.
41Twenty percent more people need help this year, a total of 13 million.
42The Syrian government cannot help them.
43Inside of Syria, almost 7 million people are considered internally displaced, which means they are no longer living in their homes.
44Syrian people are going to Europe although many countries in Eastern Europe do not want them.
45Among those who tried to make it to Europe through Belarus, 15 people died.
46Bushra said she is surprised that she was able to "put up with" the whole trip.
47But it was worth it, she said.
48"When you lose hope, you follow a path more dangerous than where you started."
49She said she is trying to live a free life. "I am done with restrictions."
50Bushra said if she does not get permission to stay in Germany, she will try somewhere else.
51She said, "If I can't get to where I want to go, I will go to where I can live."
52I'm John Russell. And I'm Dan Friedell.
1Twenty-nine-year-old Bushra started her trip to Europe from Erbil, Iraq in late September. 2The Syrian and ethnic Kurd was a student at the university in Deir el-Zour when the civil war started in her country in 2011. 3She moved to another university in Syria when Islamic State fighters took control of areas near her. She still did not feel safe. During one two-year period, she did not leave home often. 4She got work with an international aid group. During that time, she saved all her money so she would be able to leave and go to Europe. 5Ten years after the war started in her country, she began her trip. 6Why she left 7Bushra left because the economy was not good in Syria. For example, her father's job paid about $100 a month at the start of the war. Today, the same amount of money is only worth about $15. The minimum wage in Syria can only buy about 2.3 kilograms of meat a month. Some months, people cannot get that much because it is not available. 8She left because she feared Islamic State fighters who recently carried out eight kidnappings in a town close to where she lived. 9And she left because she reported on local officials in a corruption case. She worried the people she reported on might hurt her. 10Her parents worried about a woman in her 20s making a long trip by herself. But in the end, they agreed she should leave and try to find a better life in Europe. Bushra said she had no future in Syria. 11She recently spoke with the Associated Press. She said she worried security forces would target her for the rest of her life. For that reason, she did not give her last name. 12A difficult trip 13She wanted to get to safety in Germany. So, she started the trip. The last part included a long walk through the Eastern European country of Belarus to the Polish border. 14One time she made it to the border but was chased away by Polish guards. At that time, a friend got so scared she fainted. The group she was with tried to hide in ditches and behind trees so they would not get caught. But the guards found the migrants and took them back to Belarus. 15But Bushra tried a second time. 16Along the way, she hurt her leg. 17She slept outside with other travelers on cold nights. One night it was so cold that a friend broke a tooth because her teeth were chattering so much. 18At last, she reached a village in Poland where people took them to Germany in a car. 19"I put up with unbearable pain," Bushra said. She added, "Running away from something is sometimes the easiest thing." 20Almost 80,000 Syrians applied for asylum in Europe in 2021. That is 70 percent more than last year. Of the 500,000 migrants who came to Europe in 2021, Syrians are the second largest group behind Afghans. 21About 90 percent of people in Syria are very poor. Twenty percent more people need help this year, a total of 13 million. The Syrian government cannot help them. Inside of Syria, almost 7 million people are considered internally displaced, which means they are no longer living in their homes. 22"I will go to where I can live." 23Syrian people are going to Europe although many countries in Eastern Europe do not want them. Among those who tried to make it to Europe through Belarus, 15 people died. 24Bushra said she is surprised that she was able to "put up with" the whole trip. 25But it was worth it, she said. 26"When you lose hope, you follow a path more dangerous than where you started." 27She said she is trying to live a free life. "I am done with restrictions." 28Bushra said if she does not get permission to stay in Germany, she will try somewhere else. 29She said, "If I can't get to where I want to go, I will go to where I can live." 30I'm John Russell. And I'm Dan Friedell. 31Dan Friedell wrote this story for Learning English a report from the Associated Press. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 32Do you know people who have a story like Bushra? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 33__________________________________________________ 34Words in This Story 35minimum - adj. as little as possible or the lowest that is permitted 36faint - v. to suddenly become unconscious 37ditch - n. a long, narrow hole often along a road that carries water away 38unbearable - adj. too bad or difficult to be accepted or suffered 39chatter -v. to make a noise from two things knocking together (such as teeth when a person is cold) 40desperate - adj. very sad and upset because of having little or no hope